By Maxwell Griffin ’26
On Friday, October 3, five Brother Rice students traveled to New Jersey for the Action Leadership Conference. The conference is a gathering of student leaders from Christian Brothers schools across North and South America that focused on advocacy, service, and leadership inspired by the mission of Edmund Rice to work together to improve the world.
The Brother Rice attendees included juniors Charlie Kearns, Jayden Ortiz, and Kim Christopher Victoria, along with “Super-Seniors” Vincent Walker and Nolan Leonard, who were invited back after their team earned second place in a state-wide advocacy award last year.
Mr. Mike Dolan, history teacher and Brother Rice “in-house comedian,” accompanied the students on the trip, said the conference centered on three key themes: presence, compassion and liberation.
“Day one was all about presence…getting to know each other and asking, ‘What do we see when we look out our window?’” Mr. Dolan explained. “We were told the story of how Edmund Rice looked out a window and saw homeless kids who needed an education.”
On day two the students visited the Meadowlands, a former toxic waste dump that has been reformed into a thriving natural habitat.
The experience tied in the theme of compassion as well as environmental protection. Students also took part in the “Emmaus Walk,” where leaders go two-by-two, sharing personal stories and connecting on a deep level.
The final day focused on liberation. The students created 5-minute project pitches where they presented projects promoting the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Each school also committed to putting a children’s rights project into action in the coming months.
Kim Christopher Victoria shared his thoughts about this year’s trip: “It was really about learning to advocate for others… We talked about different service projects and how to get our schools more engaged in helping people who don’t have the same opportunities we do.”
Back at Rice, the students are already putting their lessons into practice. They are organizing a sleepout on Sunday, Nov. 16, to raise awareness for homeless youth.
“We’re not really homeless,” Mr. Dolan said, “but the sleepout gives students a sense of what others go through night after night… It challenges us to find ways to make things better for everyone.”
